Lodge Guest, Pete Ruikka

What is your name ?

Pete Ruikka

Where do you live and where are you from ?

Helsinki, Finland

Tell us a little bit about your past… growing up

I was just a regular kid from the suburbs who was into football and other sports. We didn’t stay still too much, we were always onto something – sometimes good, sometimes bad, haha. Boys are boys you know how it goes.

Why skateboarding ? How did it start for you ?

The first time I saw someone riding a skateboard I was blown away. It looked so cool and once I got to know how it actually feels when you’re rolling around with one I was a goner, a lifer…

What size set up, wheels & trucks do you currently ride ?

8.5 boards with steeeeeeeep concave, 54mm Spitfire F1 wheels, Indy 149’s.

Any sponsors ?

Carhartt WIP, ITÄ, adidas Skateboarding (if they’re still hooking us up haha) and it’s not sponsor but boys at My Favorite Things have been helping me out lately which I appreciate a lot.

School, work, not working or other occupation ?

I work part-time at the Finnish Skateboard Association, once a week at Good Life Coffee roastery packing coffee, I do a few Cranio Sacral Therapy treatments every week and also I just started this 10 week thing to become a yoga teacher. I worked my ass off for this skateshop 14 years straight which I ended 6 months ago. I been trying to just chill since and do stuff that really inspires me. Life’s been a lot better since – follow your heart or get sucked in and spit out, haha.

 

 

How is a normal day looking for you ? ( start from morning til late night)

There’s no normal day for me these days and I try to keep it that way, haha. If I get to skate, do yoga, cook good food, hangout with wonderful people I’m happy. I try to let life do the magic and just follow it.

Tell us how a good long weekend is looking for you

I stopped drinking two years ago, since then weekends haven’t mean THAT much for me. And now when I don’t have a “regular routine” anymore they mean even less. Everyday could be a saturday for me, every morning could be a sunday morning for me. I’d love to enjoy all days equally.

 

How was your year 2017 ?

I lot of changes but change is good. It was sort of stormy but I loved every bit of it. I met I lot of lovely new people, learned a lot, broke inner barriers which have made life easier since…it was a tough year but I wouldn’t change a day. Thank you 2017!

So how was your first 7-8 weeks of 2018 ? living healthy already ?

I’m all good. Maybe I could eat a little less of those chocolate cookies but I think I’m doing pretty good all in all.

Any new projects or missions 2018, you wanna talk about ?

We’re always doing something with ITÄ and this year is not and exception. Also there’s been talks of getting into one (or maybe two) local project which would be so cool.

Do you read books ? if so, what do you read ?

I don’t read a lot but I always have a book to finish. Lately it’s been books of yoga for the teacher training like Patanjali Yoga Sutras and history of yoga which is quite interesting. It’s a lot more than shit that goes down at gyms, haha. There’s a whole different side to it. If you’re down to stretch the way look at the world this might be a good road to go. Also Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now always comes to mind when thinking of books.

Who are you hanging out with at the moment ?

It’s wintertime so everyone’s who’s at the skatepark shredding. I have 6 lovely room mates so I see them a lot. There’s also this lovely woman I have been hanging out quite a lot lately. 😀

 

 

Who and what is your motivation at the moment ?

Dude there’s so many…I’ll just list the people I see at the park since they spark me up daily: Eniz, Samu, Kazonen, Jaki, Weskinen, Oona, Ankka, Joel, Berbs, Jacob, Olli, Nikolai, Simo, Kivi…the list goes on.

What else is going on ?

I think I covered all important facts of so far, haha. I just try to keep it mellow, chill as much a s possible and stay inspired.

What do you do besides skateboarding, hobbies, other interests ?

I play to guitar a bit, I draw and try to write stuff too. Oh and photography too, taking photos and photoshopping them is a lot fun.

What is your to go to resturant ?

Rupla lunch I guess. That all you can eat veggie buffet is calling my name often.

When you cook food, what do you cook ?

Wanna-be thai food or just something simple and fast veggie stuff. Rice, tofu and veggies.

Whats your top 3 favorite drinks ?

Water, tea, (Good Life) coffee.

How do you see the future of skateboarding ?

It’s bright. All these styles are blending in and I love it. People have more open view to it. I mean that same guy and bs air on ramp and then stand on a fs crooks on ledge. That is so cool. Also GIRLS! Fucking finally there’s so many girls skating and that warms my heart. Now looking back how weird it’s been when it was JUST guys…I mean come on it’s was a bit weird wasn’t it?!

Who do we need to interview on the lodge ?

All the homies listed above in the inspiration section of course!

Tell us a slippery story.

Ow man I don’t know there’s so much shit that has gone down along the way…getting tear gassed after a bar in Paris with Antiz, falling out of a taxi window in Frankfurt, smoking weed in Amsterdam with Danny Supa and not finding your hotel room after an hour of searching without assistance of the hotel staff…I’ve had my share of those times but I’m now set with all this and onto a different path.

 

 

THANK YOU ?

The LODGE ! Keep up the good work!

Last words ?

Life is now, get with it.

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